York Couny police search for sex offender who failed to register his address

YORK, SC (WJZY) - York County investigators are looking for a sex offender who they say failed to register his address.

Rodney Douglas James has been marked as a third degree sex offender since 1988. James listed his address last year on Inland Trace Court. But when FOX 46 Charlotte went to the house James was registered at, the current residents explained that James has not lived there in eight years.

"Rather than leave it up to someone to register themselves as a sex offender, I think it should be someone with authority to do that,” Tommy Byeres said.

Byeres lives across the street from the house James was supposed to be living in. He told FOX 46 Charlotte he doesn’t think sex offenders should be accountable for registering themselves. He believes it should be handled by law enforcement, who should keep better tabs on these offenders.

"It would be hard to tell somebody you can't live here,” Byeres said. “Everyone deserves a second chance, but at least you ought to know that."

By South Carolina law, Title 23-3-430, sex offenders are required to register for life in the Sheriff’s Office or website. Tier Three sex offenders, like James, are required to register themselves every 90 days.

If you know anything about James whereabouts, you are urged to call Crime Stoppers.